Piedmont High School’s baseball team split a pair of games with Alameda before heading into the spring break with a 2-2 record in West Alameda County Conference Foothill League play (8-5 overall).
On April 4, the Highlanders beat the Hornets at Alameda, 3-2. Michael Aikawa hurled a complete game, two-hitter to get the win. Both runs against him were unearned, as Aikawa struck out four and walked four.
Piedmont jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Markos Lagios tripled and was singled in by Will Parker. Lagios doubled to lead off the third and made it 2-0 when he came home on an error.
An error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning for Alameda. Max Cohen hit a sacrifice fly and Aikawa then balked in the tying run.
The game stayed tied into the sixth, when Peter Krumins hit a single to lead off and Parker reached on an error. One out later, Krumins scored when Dimitri Papahadjopoulos beat the return throw to first on a potential double-play ball.
Aikawa ran into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh when Luis Sanchez hit a one-out single. With two outs, an error and a walk loaded the bases. But Aikawa got Kai Shimp to ground out and end the game.
On April 6, it was the Hornets returning the favor, winning 7-3 at Piedmont. Cole Aney got the win, going the first six for Alameda, allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out eight and walked three. Shimp pitched the seventh.
John Olsen took the loss for the Highlanders, allowing four runs in two innings on two hits with four walks against one strikeout.
The Hornets scored in the top of the first and built a 7-1 lead through five innings. Shimp walked with one out in the first and was doubled in by Cohen.
Ryan McConathy tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the second. But Alameda scored three in the top of the third to take the lead for good. Olsen loaded the bases on three walks. Nico Araujo brought in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Alijah Meadows then singled in two.
In the fifth, Meadows doubled in two more runs. An error allowed Meadows to score later in the inning.
Piedmont next plays more WACC games against Bishop O’Dowd.
Photos by Mark Aikawa